Several rebel outfits have joined Taliban in Ghazni: Governor

GHAZNI CITY (Pajhwok): The governor of southern Ghazni province on Monday said a number of rebel groups had recently joined the Taliban but they would face an offensive in the winter.

Governor Abdul Karim Matin, addressing a press conference in the capital of Ghazni, said several extremists outfit had swollen the Taliban’s ranks in recent months.

“It is unclear whether or not foreigners are part of the groups,” he said, adding the Taliban were trying to disrupt security of the province by using the groups, which would face defeat as the fighters did in the past.

He said he had discussed the matter with the officials concerned and a comprehensive operation would be conducted against the Taliban militants in the winter.

Matin said police did not receive enough food in Qarabagh, Maqor, Gilan and Aab Band districts. War had become a routine that took civilian and police lives, he said.

People were faced with many problems and a fundamental solution was needed to resolve them, the governor believed.

In response to Matin’s remarks, Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said no any group had joined the insurgent movement. But he claimed people from different areas were joining the Taliban.

Ghazni is one of the country’s unstable provinces, where many areas are under Taliban’s control.